The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-27
THE DREADFUL TRAGEDY
OF THE PARIS COMMUNE-ARCH.
BISHOP DARBOY'S DEATH.
"reminiscences OF Exhibited States
Senator Washburne. In " Serb.
ner'S Magazine" for April.

The days of Tuesday and Wednes-
day, the 23d and oath OF May, we're
anxious days at La Roquette, but
there were no very striking Incl
dents. About 6 o'clock on Wednes-
day evening a detachment of forty Of
the National Guard, belonging to the
"Vengeurs of the Republic" as
they were called, arrived at the
prison with a captain, first and sec
ond lieutenants, a commissaire ofpo-
lice and two civil delegates. They
all wore bright red scarfs. Entering
the Office of the jailer, these civil
delegates demanded of the director
Of the prison the release OF the hos
tages, saying that they we're com
handed to shoot them. The director
at first refused to deliver up the
prisoners, saying that he would not
consent to such a massacre OF men
con6ded to his care without more
formal orders. A long dispute there
upon arose, which finally ended by
the director giving consent to deliv-
err up six certain victims who had
been designated. The men awaited
the decision impatiently in the court,
and as soon as the delegates had got
the consent of the director TO- give
up the prisoners they 9ll mounted
the staircase pell nell to the
first story, where the hostages
were then confined. In the presence
of such a contemplated crime 81
lence came over these assassins, who
awaited the call of the names Of the
victims. The names of the six mar
tyrs were called. The President,
Bonjean, occupying cell No. |, was
first; then the Able Deguerry, occu-
plying cell No. 4, was second; and the
last called was Mgr. Darboy, Arch
bishop Of Paris, who occupied cell
No. 3. The doors of the cell were
then opened by the officer of the
prison, and the victims were all or
dered to leave. They descended, 60
ing to the foot of the staircase, where
they embraced each other, and had a
few words, the last on earth. Never
was there a more mourntul cortege,
nor one calculated to awaken sadder
emotions. Mgr. Darboy, though
weak and enteebled by disease, gave
his arm to Chief Justice BoDjean,
and the venerable man, so well
known in all Paris, Able Deguerry,
leaned upon the arms of the two
priests. A good many struggling Ma
tional Guards and others had gath
cred around the door OF the
prison as the victims went
out, and they heaped upon
them the vilest epithets, and to an
extent that aroused the indignation
of a sublieutenant, who commanded
silence, saying to them, that which |
comes to these persons today, who |
knows but what the same will come
to us tomorrow" and a man in
blouse added, men who go to meet |
death ought not to be insulted none
but towards will insult the unfor-
tunate." Arriving in the court of
La Roquette, darkness had already
come on, and it was necessary to get
lanterns to conduct the victims be-
tween the high walls which sur
rounded the court. Nothing shook |
the firmness of these men when they |
we're thus being marched to assas-
The Archbishop was the |
coolest and frmest, because the
greatest. He shook each one by the
hand and gave him his last benedic.
ion. When they arrived at the
place where they were to be shot,
he victims were all placed against
he walls which inclosed the somber
office Of the prison of La Roquette.
Hho Archbishop was placed at
he head of the line, and the
lends who murdered him scratched
Win their knives a cross upon the
tone in the wall at the very place
where his head must have touched it
It the moment they fired their. fatal
hots. He did not fall at the first
,olley, but stood erect, calm, and
mmovable, and before the other dis
harges came which launched him
INTO eternity, he crossed himself three
lines upon his forehead The other
,ictims all fell together. The marks
# the bullets after they had passed
through their bodies were distinctly
,isible. The Archbishop. was after
yard mutilatcd and his abdomen cut
,pen. All the bodies we're then put
n cart and removed to Pere La
,haise, which was but few squares
If, where they were thrown into a
common ditch (from which, however,
hev were happily rescued before de-